The 10 Best Led Zeppelin Songs

Yesterday, we relayed the news that Led Zeppelin’s immortal, eight-minute “Stairway To Heaven” has been named “Britain’s Favorite Rock Song.”

We considered making a list of 10 Zeppelin Songs Better Than “Stairway,” then went back and listened to Jimmy Page’s climactic solo, and stopped ourselves from doing something foolish and dishonest. There are no Zeppelin songs better than “Stairway.” Here are the nine that come closest.

1. When The Levee Breaks — The drum line, arguably John Bonham’s best, inspired the Beastie Boys (who borrowed it for “Rhymin’ and Stealin’”). And Spike Lee changed the title to past tense for his Hurricane Katrina documentary. It is a brutal song, punctuated by moaning harmonica and a neverending groove.

2. Heartbreaker — Rarely does a song just stop for a guitar solo. But this one does: It comes to a complete halt, and then bursts into a shower of notes.